Any Medicare supplier of Durable Medical Equipment Prothetics Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) who bills for any items that would be coded with an E code will have to have a Surety Bond by October 2, 2009. This includes billing for the FES systems like WalkAide or Bioness. If a supplier bills for Therapeutic Shoes and Inserts (A codes), independent of a custom fabricated Orthotic or Prosthetic device, they also must have a Surety Bond.Even if the Supplier is exempted from the Surety Bond requirement as a sole proprietor O&P facility, billing for any of these items would change their exemption status. Medicare considers any E code as a DME supply as well as Therapeutic Shoes and Inserts, when billed independently.Further, if an O&P company bills E codes, it loses its accreditation exemption and must have proof of accreditation by Oct 1, 2009 FOR THOSE PRODUCTS. For additional information regarding DMEPOS accreditation or the provisions associated with a surety bond, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the surety bond requirement can be found on the NSC’s FAQ page at www.palmettogba.com/nsc.